Chapter 67

~Grace~

“Alex, I really think we should trust her,” I pleaded, standing between Alex and the doorway. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy task to convince Alex not to attack the Nightshade pack, but I had to try.

I didn’t trust that he wouldn’t just push past me and leave on his own, so I had let Enzo know what the situation was and had him post himself down the hallway just in case.

That made me feel a little bit better.

But I still had to do my part, here.

“Of course she’s lying to you, she just wants to save her own skin! I can’t believe she’s even here–and that you went to talk to her without telling me!” Alex fumed, pacing around the room.

His upper lip was curled, and I could see his pointed teeth.

I shuddered, but took a deep breath. If I lost my cool, then this conversation was as good as over. I needed to stay focused and calm.

“Alex, there’s something about this whole story that’s just not adding up! Maybe it seems fine on the surface, but I don’t think everything in the story is true,” I said, clenching my jaw.

Alex’s eyes darkened and he stopped pacing.

“Grace, be very careful what you say next,” he growled, his voice low.

Another shiver ran through my body. God, Alex was so worked up that I didn’t know if there was any chance of bringing him to logic.

Of course he’d be upset, this was the story he’d grown up with, the story that shaped him and his clan’s life. I didn’t mean to disrespect that. But how else was I going to get him to consider that something was wrong?

“Did you ever see her?” I asked, standing very still.

Alex’s head turned my way sharply.

“See who?”

“Liam’s mother, your father’s lover,” I continued, taking slow breaths.

Alex stood still for a moment, I could tell he was thinking.

I swallowed, hard. If this didn’t work, I didn’t know if there was anything else I could do to convince him.

“I never saw her specifically, but I saw werewolves,” he began slowly, but his eyes were still dark and threatening.

“Then how did you know she led the attack?” I asked, keeping my tone steady.

Alex stayed quiet again, pressing his lips together. I knew I got it. I planted that first seed of doubt.

Now, it would stay in his mind forever, he couldn’t get rid of it.

But he may not listen to it, yet.

“The Elder Lycan told me everything that happened once I made it back to the clan,” he replied softly.

I opened my mouth to continue, but he cut me off.

“But that would imply that the Elder Lycan lied to me. To all of us,” Alex snarled, getting heated again.

“I know. I don’t want to believe it either, but maybe it’s worth checking out,” I said, hoping I could still convince him.

Alex shook his head, turned around and gripped the window sill. “The Elder Lycan is the most trusted, knowledgeable Lycan in the clan. He wouldn’t lie to me.”

I sighed, closing my eyes for a brief moment.

So this was it. Alex couldn’t be convinced any further.

“...I won’t go to the Nightshade Pack today,” Alex said, his voice quiet. His shoulders were hunched as he leaned against the window sill.

I blinked, surprised.

“You- you… Okay,” I stuttered out, surprised at his decision.

“That’s what you wanted, right?” Alex asked, turning his head slightly toward me.

I nodded slowly.

“I just don’t want you doing anything rash that will get yourself and others hurt,” I said gently, taking a step forward. I placed my hand on his shoulder.

He looked at me, and my heart hurt. His eyes were full of pain and sorrow.

I had to look away. But I knew I was making the right decision. Nothing good could come out of him slaughtering a werewolf clan.

“I’m sorry. I know this is hard. I promise I’ll do everything I can to help fix this mess,” I breathed, and leaned my head against his shoulder.

After a moment, I felt his head rest on top of mine. I smiled.

“Thank you,” Alex responded.

I kissed him on the cheek and left the room, my mind spinning.

Okay, I did it. I actually did it. I stressed the whole night about if I’d be able to convince Alex not to attack the Nightshade Pack, and I did it.

I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. I hadn’t noticed how fast my heart was beating until now.

Enzo must have seen me, because I saw him heading my way.

He gave me a questioning look.

“I don’t see any angry, brooding Alexes rushing through here, so I’m going to guess you succeeded?”

I smiled, laughing quietly.

“For the most part. Hey- Can I ask you something?” I asked, standing up from the wall.

Enzo nodded.

“Has the Elder Lycan ever seemed… Strange to you? Suspicious or… I don’t know. Untrustworthy?”

Enzo’s brows lowered. “Be careful what you say about the Elder Lycan. I understand you werewolves don’t have an Elder in your traditions, but he is the highest regarded Lycan in our clan, even above Alex.”

I sighed. I knew this, but I guessed it wouldn’t be so easy convincing the clan that the Elder Lycan might not have their best interests in mind. He seemed to be so highly respected that there was little room for questioning his actions.

Even if I found that he was doing something bad, would I be able to convince the Lycans that he was?

“I know that, Enzo, and I’m not trying to be disrespectful toward your clan. I just… I think that the idea that every person is not perfect and can make mistakes should be taken into account.”

Enzo sighed. “He mostly keeps to himself. I rarely see him, honestly, and I think I’ve only spoken to him once. I don’t know him well enough to know if he seems shady.”

“Okay. Thanks, Enzo,” I said, and turned to walk away.

“Grace, I’m not doubting you,” Enzo said from behind me. I stopped and looked back at him.

“I’m just trying to warn you. The other Lycans won’t like it if you start pointing fingers at him. Just keep that in mind,” he finished.

I felt more anxious than ever.

Honestly, the last thing I wanted to do was make the Lycans hate me. I didn’t want to become the werewolf in their tragic story, who betrays them and kills half of their clan.

I know now that many have that expectation of me, and that’s honestly the last thing I want.

But if I don’t poke my nose into places that people won’t go, then I’m terrified the Black Lycan clan will die off forever.

It had only been a day, and people were so sick they couldn’t even move. The longer it took for me to figure out this mystery, the more people would die.

Even if it made the Lycans hate me, I had to investigate the Elder Lycan.